The annual opening promotional event of the Chillicothe Mudcats’ 2013 summer baseball season – the team’s “First Pitch” reception for its head coach and fans – is scheduled for one week from tonight, Friday, Jan. 18.

The event, slated to feature an appearance and remarks from returning head coach Eric Peterson and new Mudcats general manager Doug Doughty, is set for The Fast Lane Family Entertainment Center in north Chillicothe from 6-8 p.m. next Friday, according to a news release by the team’s sponsoring organization, Grand River Entertainment. The public is invited to attend the free event.

The Mudcats are coming off their winningest season in their 11-years history, having posted a 33-21 mark in Peterson’s inaugural year at the helm.

Now an assistant coach and director of baseball operations for the University of Kansas baseball program, where he began his collegiate playing career, Peterson already has spent a couple of months formulating a tentative roster for the 2013 Mudcats, as well as recruiting two assistant coaches.

One of those is almost certain to be another KU assistant coach, Tai Mitchell, who Peterson – a former pitcher – plans to have aid him with the Chillicothe hurlers.

A projected second assistant, who primarily would work with the position players and on aiding players with their hitting and offense, had to bow out of consideration, due to an unexpected teaching assignment at his university during summer school, Doughty reports. That put Peterson back on the hunt for his second aide.

Next Friday’s event, to which Mudcats fans, supporters, sponsors, and advertisers are invited by the team’s board of directors, will offer not only an opportunity to visit with Peterson and other team officials and representatives, but also hear preliminary details on the 2013 season schedule and the team’s prospects. The team’s board is in the process of exploring new ideas for enhancing the fan experience at Mudcats games.

Light refreshments will be available at next Friday’s reception, which will be held in the Victories lounge area of the bowling/entertainment center.